NEWS IN BRIEF

Hike in POL prices flayed PESHAWAR, April 1: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has expressed concern over hike in the petroleum prices and demanded of the government to withdraw the decision. In a statement issued here on Friday, SCCI president Usman Bashir Bilour said the 13 per cent raise in the petroleum prices would have trickle down impact on the economy, as cost of goods and services would increase manifold. Economy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said, was already at verge of collapse because of militancy, while the hike in petroleum prices would further aggravate the situation. He said this will increase the prices of daily use items and affect all segments of the society. He asked the government to immediately withdraw this decision of increasing petroleum prices, otherwise the masses would come out on the streets.—Bureau Report Cattle heads burnt TIMERGARA, April 1: A room was gutted when fire broke out in a house owned by Khan Mohammad, a schoolteacher, at Dherai Talash village the other night, killing five cattle heads and chickens, residents told Dawn. They said reason of the fire was not known, however, the cattle heads died because of suffocation. Residents said the inmates came to know of the fire late at night and prevented other rooms of the house from being burnt. Meanwhile, masked robbers broke into a house at Narai Shah Talash village and took away a dish TV receiver, 2 mobile sets, Rs2,500 cash, a pistol and other household items. — Correspondent PPP's fading popularity CHITRAL, April 1: PPP leader Wing Commander (retired) Fardad Ali Shah has asked the central leadership to check the fading popularity of the party in Chitral by taking drastic measures. Addressing workers here on Friday, he said Chitral had been the stronghold of the party since its very inception but its popularity was on decline due to inaptness of the policies applied here. Mr Shah said sentiments of the local workers were never taken into account while selecting office-bearers and candidates for national elections. He said the persons imposed on local workers by the central leadership always impaired the base of the party and such mistakes should not be repeated in future. Mr Shah said the party always showed reluctance to nominate the candidates for the national elections leading to party's electoral defeat in the past. — Correspondent Police role lauded PESHAWAR, April 1: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Fiaz Ahmad Khan Toru has said the first priority of police was to protect the public even if they have to embrace the suicide bombers. He said policemen had hugged the bombers to save lives of civilians and that was why the public had started loving the personnel in the province. He said the sacrifices offered in the line of duty had no parallel in the history. This, he said, while briefing a visiting 33-member delegation of the 94th National Management Course of Staff College, Lahore, on law and order situation in the province at Central Police Office on Friday. The delegation was led by Sajjad Ashraf. "We have been passing through a critical phase of our history, however, it was a matter of great pride that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police had accepted this challenge with our officers leading this war from the front," the IGP claimed. — Bureau Report Governor urges unity PESHAWAR, April 1: Governor Barrister Masood Kausar has asked the people to forge unity in their ranks to fight out the scourge of terrorism with courage and bravery. He said the elements involved in social disturbances and desecration of mosques and other sacred places were defaming the religion of Islam and impeding development.This he said while talking to a delegation of elders, hailing from various towns and villages situated along the Kohat-Hangu Road on Friday. Former chief justice of Peshawar High Court Justice Ibn-i-Ali and Maulana Shah Hussain were among the delegates. The governor said peace and congenial atmosphere was must for maintaining pace of development. —Bureau Report Membership drive PESHAWAR, April 1: Awami National Party women wing will launch membership drive from April 15 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to strengthen the party at the grassroots level. The campaign will continue for three months. Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Friday the ANP women wing provincial vice-president MPA Shagufta Malik said about 100,000 women would be given membership. The campaign, she said would be carried out door to door and the women would be contacted in every nook and corner. She said the drive would also be a sort of awareness effort to convey the party's message to maximum women. —Bureau Report